Friday, January 29, 2016

Riverdale, NY – January 28 9, 2016 – The just-published queer first novel, Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera features a young, newly out Puerto Rican protagonist, Juliet Milagros Palante. Obsessed with her first feminist book, Juliet contacts the author, Harlowe Brisbane, and sets up a summer internship. Out of the Bronx, and off to Portland, Oregon, Juliet confronts white feminism and coming out to her family while navigating the world of queer politics.

Juliet Milagros Palante is my new hero. Rivera pours her heart into ours with this story. Juliet Takes a Breath shows us that we must be vulnerable to survive the learning and un-learning necessary to become who we are, especially when we carry many identities on our strong, soft shoulders.

Phoenix Danger, co-creator of Phresh Cutz, Brooklyn

Rivera explained why she wrote this book, “I never experienced a character like Juliet Palante in my life. Not in a book or a movie. There were no brave, kinda awkward, thick-bodied, girl-loving Latinas from the Bronx in literature or media. And so, I'm super honored that she gets to run free and be out in the world. Riverdale Ave Books made my queer brown dreams come alive by publishing my first novel, Juliet Takes a Breath.”

Riverdale’s Publisher Lori Perkins said, "I am truly proud to be publishing this novel. It brings first wave feminism and fourth wave feminism together, and all the issues we juggle, to the forefront in a really positive way.”

“Rivera cuts your heart right open with the most original young lesbian character I've read in years, seamlessly weaving together racial politics, awkward teenage romance and a queer coming-of-age that manages to both center on and transcend the identities it represents."
Riese Bernard, CEO of Autostraddle

About the Author

This is Gabby Rivera’s first published novel. Gabby has worked with Autostraddle for almost five years. In that time, she’s written about feminism, kissing girls, Nicki Minaj, radical politics and falling in love with queer brown communities. She is currently working for a national non-profit organization dedicated to serving LGBTQ youth populations. She’s fostered LGBTQ youth groups, QTPOC healing spaces, and taught as a multi-media artist for arts and social justice-based organizations. She was born and raised in the Bronx.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Rory Ni Coileain has given us a world where macho hunky faes come to Earth and must find their human soulmate... or die. And the fate of the world lies upon their completion of this bond.

She's been working on the series for four years, and has won numerous awards and nominations for her unique world and view, most recently her 5th SoulShares novel, BLOWING SMOKE finished second in the Best Erotica Novel category in the Preditors & Editors Readers' Poll and received an Honorable Mention in this years' Rainbow Awards.

What was the inspiration for the SoulShares series?

I'm not sure it was any one thing... I love the idea of fated mates, but I always thought it was just a little too easy to meet your happily-ever-after, fall blissfully in love, and ride off into the sunset. So I thought, what about fated mates, where one of the pair is from a race that doesn't believe in love and tends to think of humans as pretty toys?

Have you always been attracted to M/M fiction?
I actually didn't think I could write M/M. At all. I started as a favor to a dear friend, who had read a lot of my M/F role-play fiction and begged me to write some M/M. I wrote what was supposed to be a one-off story for her.... and here I am, four years later!

Why Fae?
They're very pushy. *winks* Seriously, the fey folk are in my Irish blood, and I love the range of possibilities. In my books, the "Fae" are the most human-appearing of the inhabitants of the Fae Realm, but there are others, based on Irish and Scottish legend and lore for the most part.

What’s in the future for SoulShares?
For Rory, the author? I'm currently working on UNDERTOW, SoulShares #7, and then the eight-book story arc will wrap with STONE COLD. And I have a few other stories in the hopper -- a few shapeshifters, a contemporary Christmas story, a contribution to an anthology commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death, a set of Gille Dubh stories. I even have a few ideas for novellas set in the SoulShares world, if people want to see what happens next....

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Louisa Bacio just published the second novel in her Sex University series, Learning Curves, which features an all-girls school where women learn to explore and express their sexuality. Previous tales in the series have included Christian Mingle, where the author sent a character much like Anna Duggar to Sex U after a national scandal, and Physical Education, Book One, as well as Summer School.

What inspired
you to write a Lesbian novel in the Sex University Series?

When it comes
to writing romance, the characters speak for themselves. They choose their love
interests. After book 1, Physical Education,
I wanted to revisit the character of Margaret, the police officer. She’s a bit
dismissive of the school, and looks down on Amanda for attending.

There’s a bit
of a turnabout that comes in book 2, where Margaret needs to find herself, and
also feel protective toward someone else.

When did you
publish your first lesbian story/novel?

My first F/F
story came out in the anthology I Kissed
a Girl in 2009. “Two’s Company” follows a progression of a ménage that
eventually becomes F/F.

How did you come
up with the idea for Sex University Series?

Honestly,
undercurrents come from Anne Rice’s (writing as Anne Rampling) Exit to Eden. There is the connection
to the freedom of sexuality. At Sex U. students get to explore their interests
without any fear of censorship or ridicule.

We need more
open communication about sexuality in the world. It’s one of the base human
needs, and yet so many people prefer to hide it.

What’s in the
future for the series?

So far, Ms.
Lucy has been a secondary character. She’s found love with Clarissa, but their
relationship is built on a rocky foundation. Next up is The Master Class, where
someone from Clarissa’s past comes back and shakes things up.

Any more lesbian
novels/stories in the works?

Always. I’m so
close to finishing a F/F retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.” “The Master Class” is
a F/F/M, which may not the most popular pairing, but I think it’s hot.